Shrek Academy

The thought of recruiting them that had just stirred in Tang Ya's mind vanished without a trace.

These first-year newcomers were already three-ring Soul Elders, while she, a fourth-year veteran, had only just reached rank thirty and had yet to obtain her Soul Ring. She was not even sure she could break through to Soul Ancestor before graduation.

At that thought, an indescribable sense of defeat welled up from the depths of her heart, and she let out a furious roar inwardly-

Argh! I'll draw a circle and curse you all! With geniuses like you around, are ordinary people like us supposed to survive or not?

Of course, that roar stayed inside her head. She still wore a smile, though it was a little more strained than before.

Bei Bei sighed inwardly as well, but rather than Tang Ya's frustration, he mostly felt relief. Only now did his previously taut nerves truly relax.

The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and Shrek Academy had maintained friendly relations for ten thousand years. Since these people belonged to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, at least he no longer had to worry about his and Yaya's safety.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao was also quietly observing Nezha.

He had only just regained consciousness, and his head was still foggy. Yet deep within his mind, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice suddenly rang out, carrying a rare note of gravity. "Yuhao, be careful of that boy with the hair buns."

Huo Yuhao paused in surprise and asked inwardly, "Brother Sky Dream, what's wrong?"

"While I was merging with you earlier, my spiritual power immobilized every living creature for several miles around."

There was a hint of wariness in the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice. "But he was the only one who remained conscious. Not only that, he also has a strange pearl on him. When my spiritual power swept over it, that pearl actually managed to contend with me. There's something uncanny about him. Be careful."

Huo Yuhao felt a slight jolt of alarm.

Even Brother Sky Dream, a million-year soul beast, was warning him to be wary of the older boy before him.

He secretly raised his eyes and glanced toward Nezha. The boy with the hair buns stood beside Ning Tian, his expression calm as his gaze swept casually over their surroundings, seemingly oblivious to everything.

Yet for some reason, whenever that gaze occasionally passed over him, Huo Yuhao felt it held an elusive meaning, as though Nezha already knew something.

Although he doesn't seem to mean me any harm, Mother told me never to let down my guard against others.

Huo Yuhao quietly tucked that wariness deep within his heart, revealing nothing on his face. He merely gave a slight nod in Nezha's direction as a greeting.

Just then, Ning Tian bid them farewell in a clear, bright voice. "Senior Bei Bei, Senior Tang Ya, little brother Huo Yuhao, we'll part ways here. See you again at Shrek Academy."

"All right, see you!"

Bei Bei nodded and likewise cupped his hands to Ning Tian in farewell, gentle, refined, and impeccable in his manners.

The two groups parted there and went their separate ways.

After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, the three of them picked up their pace considerably.

As members of one of the continent's sects most adept at using soul tools, disciples of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect never lacked ways to travel when away from home.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng each took a pair of silvery-white flying soul tools from their storage soul tools. Shaped like thin wings, they fastened lightly onto their backs. The moment they injected soul power, a pale blue sheen rippled across the wings, lifting both girls steadily into the air.

Nezha, meanwhile, still rode his Wind Fire Wheels. With a turn of the twin wheels, crimson and blue-green vortices churned and intertwined, sending him shooting forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, even faster than the two girls.

A journey that would originally have taken three days lasted less than half a day before the outline of a magnificent city rose from the horizon.

Shrek Academy stood in the southeastern part of the Heaven Dou Empire.

To its southeast lay the Star Dou Great Forest, to its east the Dou Ling Empire, and to its south the Star Luo Empire. It occupied the very heart of the junction between the three great empires, enjoying a uniquely favorable location.

Shrek City was a magnificent city built around Shrek Academy as its core.

It covered an immense area, far surpassing Nine Treasures City, which was controlled by the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Only the capitals of the four great empires could rival it in scale.

It had independent administrative and taxation systems and belonged to no nation on the continent. In other words, Shrek City was the continent's fifth empire, and Shrek Academy governed it.

People could enter and leave freely through Shrek City's western, southern, and northern sides. However, since Shrek Academy occupied the eastern part of the city, the east gate belonged exclusively to the academy, and unauthorized people were not permitted to pass through.

The three descended from the sky and approached the east gate on foot. The city's appearance was entirely different from Nine Treasures City, with its towering buildings and distinctly modern feel. As far as the eye could see, antique buildings stood with gray bricks, dark roof tiles, and upturned eaves. The streets were broad and clean, with shops packed side by side along them, their banners swaying gently in the wind.

Yet its prosperity was in no way diminished. Rather, the heritage accumulated over ten thousand years gave it a weight and composure that Nine Treasures City lacked.

Before long, the three arrived at the east gate.

It was currently Shrek's annual admissions season, and the registration point had been set up at the east gate. The area bustled with activity, a sea of heads filling the lively scene.

Boys and girls who had come to register stood in long queues, while their accompanying parents gathered nearby in groups of three or five. All sorts of accents mingled together, with waves of chatter rising and falling.

Nezha and his two companions undoubtedly made an eye-catching trio in the crowd.

Two girls and one boy-the boy handsome, the girls beautiful, and all three strikingly different in style.

Wu Feng wore a fiery-red fitted outfit over her athletic figure, her crimson ponytail tied high and dragon scales faintly visible on her arms. Her vivid beauty carried a bold, untamed spirit, like a walking blaze.

Ning Tian wore white, with a faint wash of blue along the hem of her skirt. Her platinum-blond hair fell to her waist, and her azure eyes were as clear as a lake. Elegant and noble, she resembled an ice lotus blooming atop a snowy peak.

Nezha walked between them, his black hair fluttering beneath the two buns atop his head. He wore a jet-black fitted outfit, his Wind Fire Wheels hovering three inches above the ground as streams of wind- and fire-colored light intertwined around them. His handsome features carried a sharp, defiant edge.

The trio drew the eyes of countless boys, as well as a great many girls. Compared with the boys' furtive glances, the girls' gazes were far more ardent. Their eyes shone as they huddled together and whispered, occasionally breaking into muffled squeals.

"Look, look! The one riding those wheels! He's so handsome!"

"The girl in white beside him is so pretty, too..."

"The red-haired one looks so cool!"

Nezha's hearing was excellent, and every word of their chatter reached his ears.

His expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he marveled, I never got treatment like this when I was a corporate drone in my previous life. Being good-looking really does give you an advantage.

Ning Tian, on the other hand, remained perfectly composed, as though she had long since grown accustomed to such attention.

Wu Feng held her chin high and openly accepted the gazes coming from every direction. A smug curve even lifted the corners of her lips, while her fiery-red ponytail swished behind her like a tail.